Underreamer.



` F. A. HAUGH.

UNDERREAMER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY`21l 1914.

wm 5.a M .a a... MW A, .M2 MM E .0 M m @0i/lineman 4 FRANK A. HA'UGH, OF JKCNDEPENDENCE, KANSAS.

UNDERREAIVIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Application led July 21, 1914. Serial No. 852,240.

T o all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK A. HAUGH, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at npand the cutters so as to render the same operative as soon as the reamer has emerged from the lower end of the casing. y

A further object of the invention is to l provide a tool of the class described wherein the means for expanding the cutters is adapted to secure the same rigidly in their operative positions, but is adapted to be rendered inoperative by an actuating device which engages the lower end of the casing as the reamer enters the samein being withdrawn after the cuttin'goperation has been completed. f

Another object is to provide means for locking the cutter expandingy device positively in its operative position. A still further object is the provision of an under-reamer whose parts are simply constructed and few in number so as to be capable of being assembled or detached read-ily for the purpose of repair, and where by the tool is rendered extremely durable and also inexpensive in the cost of manufacture. i

i The invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being yhad to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool showing the cutters and the plunger inoperative while the device is passing through,-

a well casing; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cutters and the plun er in their operative positions, the casing eing omitted; Fig. 3 is ak front elevation of the same; Fig. 4 isa bottom plan view; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a similar view on line `6--6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on line 7--7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the cutters; and, Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the supporting member.

In the drawings, the numerall designates the cylindrical body of the tool, which is provided in its lower end with a socket 2in which a cylindrical supporting member 3 is adapted to be mounted and to be secured therein by means of a radial set screw 4:, whose tapered innerend 5 is adapted'to be engaged within an annular groove 6 in the v supporting member. The lower end of the socket 2 is enlarged as at 7 and an annular groove 8 is provided in the socket adjacent to the said end. The bottom wall 9 of the groove 8 is out at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body, whereas the upper wall thereof is frusto-conical in shape, it being inclined to the said axis. A plurality of cutters 10, each of which are substantially segmental in transverse section, have their upper ends reduced as at 11 for reception within the socket groove 8 ofthe body, these reduced portions being shaped externally the same as the said grooves so as to tit snugly therein when in their expanded, operative positions, wherein their shoulders 12 abut the marginal portion of the lower end of the body. The reduced portions 11 -of the cutters are thus provided above the shoulders 12 with opposed shoulders 13 for engagement with the bottom wall 9 of the groove 8. The upper ends of the cutters are provided with interiorly disposed, semi-annular flanges 14 for pivoting engagement within the annular groove 15, which is provided in the outer periphery of the reduced lower end 16`of the su porting member 3.

The body 1 is provi ed in communication with its socket 2 with an upwardly projecting central bore 17, and the supporting member 3 is provided with a medial bore 18 in registration therewith, for the reception of a longitudinally movable plunger 19 whose .lower end is adapted to project through the space provided between the cutters. The. inner faces of the cutters adjacent to the upper lends thereof' are longitudinally inclined as at 20 so 'as to converge upwardly and they are adapted to be engaged by a frusto-conical enlargement 21 which is formed upon the outer periphery of the plunger 19 in spaced relation `to its lower end, this enlargement being adapted to expand the upper ends of the cutters so that they will it se-l ject outwardly past the outer the body 1 of the tool.

- body 1 when the dog is in its uppermost, in-

. tain the plunger in its unobstructing when the pl curely within the socket groove 8, when the plunger is moved upwardly. The lower end portions of the inner faces of the cutters are inclined more abruptly and are adapted for engagement by a second expanding and reinforcing head 22, which latter is constructed frusto-conical in shape like the enlargement 21, but greater in mean diameter than the same.

The body 1 is provided above the socket 2 with a longitudinally extending slot '27 which opens through the sides thereof and is adapted for the reception of a cross-head 28, which latter is vertically slidable therethrough and is connected medially in a detachable manner with the upper end of the plunger 19. A helical compression spring 29 is vmounted upon the plunger between the lower wall of the body slot 27 and the crosshead This spring is adapted normally to maintain the plunger in its uppermost operative position, wherein it renders the cutters operative. Upwardly projecting dogs 30 have theirlower, reduced ends 31 pivotally mounted within terminal slots 32 in the cross-head, limiting shoulders 33 being provided upon these dogs at a short distance above the upper face of the cross-head for engagement therewith, to limit the swingingk movement thereof to such an extent that the body portions of the dogs will not properiphery of These dogs are adapted for movement through the longitudinal grooves 34'which are provided in the outer periphery of the body 1 in communication with the slot 27 and extending upwardly therefrom. An actuating lug 35 is formed upon the free end of each dog 30 andy is adapted to project outwardly from the operative position. The body grooves 34 are deepened at their lower ends to provide recesses 36, which are adapted to receive the free ends of the dogs 30 when in their lowermost operative positions, so that the lugs 35 may drop into the grooves and thus be unger is inoperative. The upper Walls 37 of the grooverecesses 36 are inclined abruptly so as to form shoulders for locking engagement with the free ends of the dogs when in their operative positions, wherein they are maintained b contact between the outer longitudinalv edges of the lugs 35 and the inner periphery of a well'casing through which the tool may be passing. The upper end of each actuating lug 35 is beveled as at 38 for a purpose which will be described more fully hereinafter.

In order that it will not be necessary to depend solely upon the spring 29 to mainoperative position, means are provided for locking the plunger positively in this position.` In carrying this purpose into eiect, a locking member 40 is pivotally mounted within a longitudinal groove 41 in the outer periphery of the body 1 in a position approximately 90o from either of the dogs 30. This locking member is mounted upon a tangentially disposed pivot pin 42 which extends through an opening 43 in the said member, which is disposed adjacent tothe inner edge of the same, and the upper end portion ofthe locking member is constructed heavier than the lower end so that it will serve as overbalancing means for maintaining the inwardly projecting lug 44 on the lower end of the said member normally in its innermost operative posit-ion within the slot 41, wherein it is adapted to engage within the notch 45 in one side face of the cross-head 28 when the plunger is in its elevated operative position. In order to insure reliable action of the locking member, a compressible spring 45l is mounted between the upper end of the said member and the body of the tool. The outer edge of the locking member, at the upper end of the same, is beveled as at 46 for engagement with the lower end of a well-casing and this end of the said member is disposed abovethe upper ends of the dogs 30 in order that the upper end of the locking member will be forced inwardly by its engagement with the casing before the dogs 30 can possibly engage the lower end of the casing to release the cross-head of the plunger, prior to its movement into inoperative position, as caused by the engagement of the dogs 30 with the casing end. The lower end face 47 of the lug 44 on the locking member is beveled in order that the said lug will become engaged within the cross-head notch 45 automatically whenever the plunger assumes its operative position.

The operation of the device will now be described.

Prior to lowering the tool through a well casing, such as is indicated by the numeral 39, the cross-head 28 is depressed into operative position against the action of the resetting spring 29 for the plunger, until the free ends of the dogs 30 are engaged with the lockingv shoulders 37. The plunger will thus be depressed into its inoperative position `so as topermit the outwardly flaring cutters to bek collapsed, so that they will not project past the outer periphery of the body.

While the dogs 30 are maintained in operative position by pressing theactuating lugs inwardly, the tool as a whole. may be inserted into the upper end of the well casing, whose inner periphery will contact with the outer edges of the saidlugs to maintain the dogs operative during the descent of the tool through the casing. As soon as the tool has emerged from the lower end of the casing, the actuating lugs will' be released, thus permitting the dogs to move-outwardly and release the plunger, which latter will be thrust upwardly into operative position by the ac'- tion of its resetting spring, wherein it will become locked by the member 40. The ex- 5 panding enlargement 21 and head 22 will thus operate to render the cutters operative and maintain the same rigidly in proper relation to the body 2 for active use. When it is desired to withdraw the tool through the casing, its body -is drawn upwardly, whereupon the beveled end face 46 of the locking member 40 will engage the lower end of the tube so as to be forced inwardly into inoperative position and thus releasethe lug`44 from engagement with the cross-head notch 45. Immediately following this release of the plunger, the beveled end faces 38 of the actuating lugs will become engaged with the lower end of the tube so as to thrust the dogs downwardly to the limit of their movement, whereupon the said casing endv will operate to thrust the lugs and consequently the free ends of the respective dogs inwardly V-into operative engagement with the locking shoulders 37. This operation of the dogs will move the plunger downwardly into inoperative position releasing the cutters and permitting the same to collapse for free movement through the casing. Owing to the manner in'which the cutters are connected with the body of the tool, they may be removed readily for the purpose of sharpening or replacing the same by new cutters by merely removing the pin 4 while the plunger is inoperative, whereupon the supporting member may be withdrawn and one or more of the cutters may be detached p therefrom.

what is 'claimed is; el. An under-reamercomprislng an elongated body having a socket in its lower end,

a plurality of cutters having their upper ends pivotally mounted within the body socket for radial swinging movement, the said cutters being adapted to project laterally from the outer periphery of the body in operative position and being adapted to collapse into inoperative position, a longitudinally adjustable plunger mounted within the body,- an expanding head provided upon the lower end ofsaid plunger for wedging engagement withthe cutters when moved upwardlv -into operative position, yieldable means for normally maintaining the plunger in its operative position, the body'being p roj vided with `a longitudinal slot opening through its outer periphery and with a longitudinal groove in the said periphery in communication with the upper end ofthe slot, a cross-head mounted xedly upon the plunger for movement within the body slot and having a notch therein, a. locking member pivotally mounted within the said groove for radial movement and having an inwardly projecting lug adapted for engageadapted normally to project outwardly from the outer periphery of the body and having its outer edge beveled, the body being provided in its outer periphery with a second longitudinal groove in communication with the said slots and having in its lower end a recess affording an inclined upper wall, the upper end of the second groove being disposed lower upon the body than the inclined upper end of the vlocking member, and an upwardly projecting dog pivotally mounted upon the lower endA of the cross-head for movement within the second groove, the free end of the dog being adapted for locking engagement with the inclined upper wall of the said recess when the plunger is in its depressed inoperative position.

2. An under-reamer comprising an elongated body having a socket in its lower end, a plurality of cutters having their upper ends pivotally mounted within the body socket for radial swinging movement, the said cutters being adapted to project laterally from the outer periphery of the body in operative position and being adapted to collapse into'inoperative position, a longitudinally adjustable plunger. mounted within the body, an expanding head provided upon the lower end of said plunger for wedging engagement with the cutters when moved upwardly into operative position, yieldable means for normally maintaining the plunger in its operative position, the body being provided with a longitudinal slot opening ,through its outer periphery and with a adapted normally to project outwardly from the outer periphery ofthe body and having its outer edge beveled, the body being pro; vided in its outer periphery with a second longitudinal groove in communication with the said slots and having in its lower end a recess affording an inclined upper wall, the upper 'end of the second groove being disposed lower upon the body than the inclined upper end of the. locking member, an upwardly projecting dog pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the cross-head for movement within the second groove, the free end of the dog being-adapted for locking engagement with the inclined upper wall of l contained within the groove when the dog is operative.

3. An under-reamer comprising an elongated body having a socket in its lower end, a plurality of cutters having their upper ends pivotally mounted within the body socket for radial swinging movement, lthe said cutters being adapted to project laterallv from the outer periphery of the body inl operative position and being adapted to collapse into inoperative position, a longitudinally adjustable plunger mounted within the body, an expanding head provided upon the lower end of said plunger for wedging engagement with the cutters when moved upwardly into operativeposition, yieldable means for normally maintaining the plunger 1n its operative position, the body being provided with a longitudinal slot opening through its outer periphery and with a longitudinal groove in the said periphery in communication with the upper end of the slot, a cross-head mounted fiXedly upon the plunger for movement within the body slot and having a notch therein, a locking member pivotally mounted within the said groove for radial movement and having an inwardly projecting lug adapted for engagement within the cross-head notch, means for normally maintaining the upper end of the locking member being adapted normally to project outwardly from the outer periphery of the body' and having its outer edge beveled, the body being provided in its outer periphery with a second longitudinal groove in communication with i the lug of the locking` member 1n 1ts innermost, operative position,

the said slots and having in its lower end a recess affording an inclined upper Wall, the upper end of the second groove being dis-l posed lower upon the body than the inclined upper end of the locking member, an upwardly projecting dog pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the cross-head for movement within the second groove, the free end of the dog being adapted for locking engagement with the inclined upper wall of the said recess when the plunger is in its depressed inoperative position, and an actuating lug formed upon the' outer edge ofthe said dog and being adapted to project outwardly from the body when the dog is in its uppermost inoperative position and to be contained within the groove, when the dog is operative, the upper face of the actuating lug being inclined longitudinally.

4. An under-reamer comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal socket in its lower end, the lower endportion of the socket being enlarged, a cylindrical supportingmember adapted to be mounted removably within the body socket with its lower end projecting into the enlarged portion thereof, the said supporting member l'being provided adjacent to its upper end with an external annular groove, a set screw mounted within the body for radial adjustment with its inner end adapted for securing engagement with the ing member, and a plurality of cutters pivotally connected with the lower end of the supporting member and being adapted to project through the lower end of the body socket and laterally from the outer periph-4 ery of thesame when operative.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. HAUGH. Witnesses W. H. YMirar-intr., E. CLARK.

groove of the support- 

